SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Bates seniors Connor Hartman and Sam Scola have been named to the 2026 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-Academic Team, announced by the organization on Thursday morning. 

Members of the team are nominated by head coaches in Divisions I, II and III, and are student-athletes who have excelled both in the classroom and on the field over the course of their men's lacrosse career. Nominees must have a senior or graduate student standing with no eligibility remaining or plans to use their eligibility in New England, a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, and be an impact player for their team.

A team captain this year and a three-time NESCAC Spring All-Academic selection, Hartman (Hingham, Mass.) was an impact player throughout his time as a Bobcat. The economics major was one of just six midfielders to earn All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association. He was named a third team All-American by USA Lacrosse and an All-America honorable mention by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. A two-time All-NESCAC midfielder, Hartman scored 108 goals in his Bates career, playing in 58 games and increasing his scoring output every season. He tallied a career-high 44 goals this year despite often being the focus of the other team's defensive efforts. Hartman graduates from Bates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.76.

Scola (San Mateo, Calif.) emerged as a key defensive midfielder for the Bobcats as a senior this season. A biochemistry and economics double major, he is a three-time NESCAC Spring All-Academic selection who played in all 18 games this year, after having played in 12 combined games his previous three seasons. Scola recorded 19 ground balls, caused four turnovers, and even scored a goal in a 22-6 win in the snow over Emerson. Scola graduates from Bates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.80. 

In total, 202 Division III players representing 39 different institutions made an appearance on this year's NEILA All-Academic squad.